Day 92 (Tuesday 16th January 2007)

Paul and Helena left early for Surfers the next morning, but our new friends the Welsh boys were around for a few days yet.

We extended our stay at the campsite for a further night and while "Wardy" recovered in his tent all day, Jay joined us down Tallow Beach. Jay brought his body board along and with the waves now beginning to pick up, him and Marc took it in turns to get wiped out in the sea. Sarah on the other hand, made do with a few dips between wave breaks.

That evening "Wardy" resurrected himself and we all had a barbie at the campsite. Deciding to have an early night that night, walking back to our tents we all gazed as a shooting star lit up the night sky in front of us...incredible stuff!!

Day 93 (Wednesday 17th January 2007)

The Welsh boys and us were becoming something of a gang and we met them down Main Beach that morning. After hearing that there was a cool wreck just offshore there, we decided to take down the masks and snorkels.

Wierd really when you think about...here we were in Australia's capital surf beach...snorkelling!Nevertheless, it was out of this world! The beach fell within the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve, where tropical and temperate currents meet. It was a bit difficult to reach mind, swimming out past the now fearsome surf and even after that came the pure terror of what could be out there, lurking in the murky water.

Marc went out alone at first to check it all out and he'll tell you that there were several moments when he felt less than at ease! Despite its hazards, the wreck and adjacent reef were well worth the risk and many, many rays, leopard sharks, wobbegong sharks, pufferfish, turtles and numerous reef fishes and sessile animals were its reward.

Together, Marc and Dan counted seven turtles on just one snorkel and on Marc's maiden snorkel, he saw a 3-metre-long shark ray, or guitarfish as its known here by the locals.

Sarah on the otherhand was quite content topping up her tan on the beach. If the thought of being shark food or the fear of tumbling inside the washing machine of waves wasn't a big enough deterrent, the fact that she lost her bikini everytime she went in certainly was!

That night we had another barbie, followed by a few Welsh card games...even they didn't know the rules!!

PS Hey Petie boy and Jody! We'll definitely hook you up when we return to Sydney and Marc says well done for stomaching the place so long!!...